Defender Amanda Gerlitz holds off an opponent as she gains possession in the Terps’ 1-0 loss to West Virginia at Ludwig Field on August 28, 2015
Terrapins women’s soccer coach Jonathan Morgan knew his team was exhausted.
So after the Terps lost at TCU on Friday night, Morgan used a season-high eight substitutes in their 2-1 win over SMU two days later.
For their first three weekends, the Terps have played games on Friday and Sunday. This weekend, though, Morgan’s squad is looking forward to an extra day off as it plays James Madison on Thursday before facing off with Yale on Sunday.
“Our fitness level is what got us through Sunday,” Morgan said. “Thursday/Sunday allows the kids to get their legs back opposed to a Friday/Sunday, where they find themselves compensating and just trying to find a way to get through it.”
During their day off between matches with the Dukes (4-2) and Bulldogs (2-2), the Terps will work with strength and conditioning coach Narciso Valencia and trainer Marta Amerein. They’ll use bands and foam rollers, undergo electric stimulation and work on strengthening injured muscles.
The extra rest also helped Morgan prepare practices for the week.
Because of the Terps’ lack of rest over the first three weekends, the fourth-year coach wouldn’t plan midweek practices at game speed. But with the extra day off this weekend, Morgan was able to replicate game environments in training.
“You just feel more confident that you’re going to have more energy,” defender Amanda Gerlitz said about the extra rest. “I should be doing the most running on the team because I have to cover the entire line, and I have to get all the way back to defend. I [need] power in my legs.”
While Morgan didn’t mention which day the Terps will have off this weekend, they used Friday to recover last season when playing games Thursday and Sunday. After taking it easy, the team would have a walk-through Saturday in which each unit worked individually and in small groups to improve a specific skill.
“You get that extra day to watch video, go over tactical things, go over the things that went wrong and what we need to improve on and what we need to capitalize on,” midfielder Riley Barger said. “Being able to get up and down the field, that’s my job. I have to be around the ball at all times. Having that extra day to recover helps me do my job.”
Last weekend, Barger said the Terps didn’t play strong defense for 90 minutes. And in the attacking third, Morgan felt the Terps’ fatigue hindered their ability to finish their scoring chances.
But with more time to recharge between games, the Terps are relieved. Instead of worrying about her fitness level in Sunday’s contest, Barger will be looking forward to getting extra sleep.
“This game is hard,” Morgan said. “It’s not meant to be played on Friday and Sunday. Unfortunately, the NCAA doesn’t get that. That’s part of the reason for so many injuries. It takes the mind, and it takes the body.”
